If you are off work sick, are you obligated to answer work email and texts?

[lightbulb27]

Or do you want to stay working any way.

I feel obligated to answer some messages

I want to answer messages, stay connected

No, if I'm off... that's that!

[Moose304]

This is one of those questions that has no right or wrong answer. It is up to how the person feels. I remember about 15 years ago I caught a really bad case of the flu. I was so sick my doctor wanted to admit me. I was out of work for almost a week. The thing is I was the boss and the company did not close the office. At least twice a day my executive assistant contacted me to ask a question. I also was the only one that could authorize company money to be used. While I felt like crap I took those calls and got through it all.

[ShakTreblat]

Nope. When I’m on leave I’m on leave and I do not check my emails. If there’s an emergency that I can assist with from home, then my office will call me and I’ll do what I can, but for the most part my time is MY time. Granted I’m in the military so the nature of the emergency is way different than a civilian job, so I’m more obligated to answer in that regard.

[lightbulb27]

Agree. Thank you for your service to our country. Stay safe.

[Anonymous]

If I'm out sick, the idea is to rest and get better so I can go back to work at 100%. That cannot be achieved in my book, if I'm answering or doing work as if I'm in the office and everything is fine when it isn't.

[Dinklex3]

I dont "want" to, but I do have to lol.
Caught Covid last Saturday, so I've been getting a couple texts and calls.
Thankfully they've left me alone for the most part.

[LikeALog]

I depends on how sick I'm feeling. I usually work from home so the expectation is there. Also when someone else helps, it's minimal and I still have to do the work. So if I'm sick, I let my boss know so he can assign new stuff to others and I will I do what I can to prevent the work from piling up. I have to eventually do all the work that's why I do what I can while sick.

[ObscuredBeyond]

It frustrates me when they want me to go into Workday, and only Workday, to resolve XYZ, and then I get that stupid 2048 characters error, and can't log in. Can't change password. Can't get anything to work right. And it's always broken!

[lightbulb27]

They need to upgrade from windows 95. Joke.

[ObscuredBeyond]

It may as well be Windows 95!

[bolverk]

No if you are off sick you are not obligated to answer work email and texts,
when I have been off sick from work I send out a 'round robin' email and text explaining that I'm out sick for X weeks and will be unavailable, If co-workers/Management don't like it then that tough for them.

[TommyMountainFigure]

The law in my country states if you are off sick then you do no work. However as someone who is self employed, off sick means i don't get paid, therefore I'd have to be at death's door to take time off.

[exitseven]

This is why I do not have a smart phone. My boss would be emailing stupid stuff to me 24/7 if I did. He asked me for my cell number and I told him that I only give that number out to family members. He was pissed and gave me some shit and I told him if he wanted to be able to get in contact with me the company would have to supply me with a phone.

[RolandCuthbert]

I don’t require my employees to. But my clients expect that I respond to them or have an alternative.

[BillyBalls]

It depends on the nature of the job.

Most jobs are not that important to need the employee to be in constant contact with the job.

Some high level jobs which require input from specific individuals do exist though. So a phone call from the office on a day off may be required.

Fortunately for me all the jobs I've had my work could be put off till the next day or be handled by a co-worker if it had to be done immediately.

[serious_miss419]

Does your employ pay you to be obligated and is it in your job description 😂


I don’t answer a work call. I’m sick. End of it.

[Anonymous]

I'd say it's really up to how much you like your job and want to keep it. 🤣
I'm joking but I'm not. The reality is you're only as useful to your employer as what you have done for them lately. And if you start deciding you're a human being who has human weaknesses like the ability to get sick. Your employer might decide well you've used up your utility to the company.

[MysticDevice]

If I'm off the clock, even if the plant is on fire or so far behind, or busy beyond belief, I will NOT answer them. My obligation begins and ends at the time-clock

[Ms_Facesitter]

No I put my phone off, I won't open my mail. I will be unable to contact when I'm sick.

[OddBeMe]

Depends if you have a career or a job.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnlNUZqFzgY

[ArtemisSilver]

I will typically respond once per day, after hours.

[Crankor]

It's not a sick day If your still working

[Msputiton]

Depends on the job

[weirdoweirdo]

Fuuuuuck no. Im sick.

[AFretiredTXn]

Probably depends on your job position?

[driven159]

that is up to you